posted February 12, 2010 12:18 PM         

i don't know about the rest of you but i have had plenty of brushes with the press and whatever you say it can be made to look good, bad or indifferent by the way it is presented.

posted February 12, 2010 01:35 PM         

I didn't know until this thread that he has Moon cnj Neptune in Sag, but I think that aspect explains a lot. Neptune is a unifier, that's why so many artists have it prominent in their charts. Artistic creation is synthesizing seemingly separate elements into a meaningful whole. Neptune is the unifying force that allows us to do that.

Like any astrological influence, Neptune can have some negative effects on the psychological self. With him, it seems to make him too open with the public about his own thoughts. Specifically, his thoughts about emotion. Moon (emotions), Sag (philosophizing), Neptune (no boundary).

Perhaps now he'll give some more thought about what he should share. He may feel a pull to be open about himself, but the women he's been with deserve their privacy. It's not like he can discuss them anonymously. They're public figures.

posted February 12, 2010 02:22 PM         

a) eek a reporter get away from me!!
b) i thought he was hot but what a **** actor!
c) it really is too trite to ask questions like that!

now, suppose you are in the business of being seen, whatever branch that may be. would that change your response? would you take 5 to think about all the possible ways that comment might be distorted when seen in print or taken out of context?

i don't know the guy. but i know plenty of black people who use the word n... with pride. a token of comraderie and affection. and i know plenty of white people who use it to show they"re "down" with that sort of inverted racism.

the fact is if no one was hanging on his words it wouldn't matter WHAT he said would it? so who is the culprit?

posted February 12, 2010 03:00 PM         

Good point. However, I am part Black. I despise the word, being called it numerous times in my life out of racism by some white people. First time was on my 9th birthday in 1980. The last time in 2004. I felt very uncomfortable when my maternal grandfather called my maternal stepgrandmother the n'word when they were arguing on the day that they took me to Marine World Africa USA when I was a kid. I was about 13. I can't remember the age. I felt so uncomfortable that I thought maybe Grandpa thought of me as the n'word too. I felt uncomfortable around him like he didn't love me. I asked my mother if my grandfather was racist, and she told me straight up "No" because he wasn't like that. My matneral Aunt Dominga (my mom's paternal halfsister) said straight up other-wise that he was after he had died. She said that he was a racist. She,my other aunt,and my 2 uncles were called the n'word by her own maternal grandfather. I don't like the n'word being called by my fellows of black descent either. I even get annoyed being called "brotha" ,especially if they take my "blackness" for granted and tried to pin me down as "black" when I am more than just that and have a multicultural approach to how I live my life. I have been around that stuff. I live in a predominantly black neighborhood called Oak Park located in multiracial,multicultural Sacramento,California which still has problem with racial prejudice. That is something that my mother pointed out to me.

also there is a different way of saying the n'word

racist way of saying the word is "nigger"
some well-meaning people use the word to refer to ignorant,rude black people. I don't agree with that either.
the comraderie term of saying the word is "nigga"

That's what I understand from the experience of being called those words. I don't use either. I don't even use words like "brotha" and "sista"
the word, actually stems from the word, Niger which is also the Latin word for black and not just the name of a country in Africa.

http://www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/caricature/

other slurs used against black people like "jiggaboo","coon", and 'monkey"

I don't approve of any racial slurs..regardless of race.

Raymond

posted February 12, 2010 03:03 PM         

And really why would you wish a d-bag onto poor hookers? They're people too.

posted February 12, 2010 03:05 PM         

When we relate, we open ourselves up to receiving the other's interpretation of us. Misinterpretation is an inherent risk, but we do have some control over how we're perceived.

When an artist gives her art, others interpret it. The artist doesn't have complete control over how others view her art, since their view is subjective. The artist does have some control over the quality of her work, and quality is a social and perhaps even inherent standard. Socially, a time and place has its collective view on what constitutes talent and hackery. Also our minds have an inherent sense of beauty. We all know when we hear Mozart that we're hearing something better than when I'm slamming away nonsensically on the keys. So an artist does have some say over how she's viewed as an artist since she knows the general standards which will be used by others to judge her.

If an artist decides to relate to the public as a personal self as well, people are going to interpret that too. As before, the artist doesn't have complete control over how her personal self is interpreted since that's grounded in the interpreter's personal self. But also as before, a social world has general standards for what's considered douchebag behavior and what's more decent. And I also believe that outside of social mores, inherent in the human experience is a better or worse way to treat people. Act in the d-bag way, and that's how you'll generally be perceived. That doesn't mean that people are giving more than a second's thought to a celebrity's behavior or any great weight to it, just that they're interpreting it.

If we relate we'll be interpreted. There's no way around that. If we listen to feedback, we may even improve ourselves.

posted February 12, 2010 03:30 PM         

I don't trust tabloids nor "news" about celebrities. There are always seem to be some controversy involving celebrities in general. I don't know what to believe.

If any of us were celebrities, I am sure that there would be all kinds of controversial news about us.

Heck..I don't even think looking at natal chart of celebrities in regards to the propensity to be controversial or make "news" even works.

Raymond

------------------
"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted February 12, 2010 04:24 PM         

what also puzzles me about racism is stuff like, black history month and black college scholarships, when if we had pinkish white history month or yellowish white scholarships the NAACP would be all over us for racism. why is it ok for black pride to exist, hispanic prides but not white american pride, because that is racist...aren't all of them racist? not sure what the census will reveal but I am pretty sure white is now the minority here in the states.
there are a lot of celebrities who would be better of to stick to their art and not speak, john mayer only being one of them. ex-president bush embarrassed himself everytime he opened his mouth. i don't see what the big deal is.

posted February 12, 2010 05:05 PM         

I looked up that,and I found the following:

February marks the beginning of Black History Month. It is an event celebrated annually in the U.S. and founded in 1926 by an African-American historian, Carter G. Woodson. He initially founded it as Negro History Week in order to honor two influential men - Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. It also was a marker for several historical events that happened in the month of February that impacted the lives of African-Americans such as the Fifteenth Amendment of the United States giving them the right to vote. By 1976, as the U.S. reached its bicentennial, it was expanded to a month.

With the expansion of this celebration into a month, came controversy. Many individuals debate about the usefulness of it. They fear Black History Month only highlights the color lines already dividing American society. Actor Morgan Freeman stated on a 60 Minutes episode, "I don't want a Black History Month. Black history is American history." The only problem with his statement is that African Americans were rarely mentioned in history until the founding of Black History Month.

Traditionally, American history books only mentioned one prominent African-American in their pages - George Washington Carver. The remaining African-Americans were nameless slaves and servants. Carter Woodson wanted to change the way the history books portrayed people like him with the hopes of full integration. Once the integration was complete, Woodson believed the need for Black History Month would go away. So, the question for those in favor of continuing this celebration today is 'have African Americans fully integrated?'

Depending on who you ask, you will get a different answer as to how far African-Americans have permeated mainstream society. What can be seen is a long history of people who have struggled to obtain the same rights and privileges as their Caucasian counter-parts. What can also be seen is the hate that still exists despite so many societal changes. For this reason, Black History Month is vital.

The meaning of Black History Month has far exceeded the hopes of its founder. It not only highlights the impact of African-Americans on society. It also helps people remember the danger of racial and socio-economic oppression which effect more than just Blacks. This month helps everyone see the importance of human rights for all people and is the reason why it should always be celebrated. So the main question U.S. citizens should be asking themselves come February is 'how am I going to celebrate Black History Month.'

What an individual decides to do to celebrate Black History Month is personal. It's just important that everyone finds a way to honor it in a manner that is meaningful to them. For some, it may mean going to a parade or church event. For others, it could be an open discussion with their child about the importance of equality for everyone. It can even be a moment of silence reflecting on the world and how you impact it. Either way, celebrating this month is important to everyone. So, don't forget to celebrate Black History Month.

Black History Trivia

* The United Kingdom celebrates Black History Month in the month of October.

* The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded on February 23, 1868 by W.E.B. DuBois.

* Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first Black U.S. Senator, took his oath of offices on February 3, 1870.

* Malcolm X, a leader who promoted Black Nationalism, was shot to death on February 21, 1965.

* On February 3, 1870, Blacks were given the right to vote through the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

* On February 1, 1960 in Greensboro NC, college students would do a sit-in at a Woolworth lunch counter that would turn into a civil rights milestone.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/124898/why_we_celebrate_black_hist ory_month_pg2.html?cat=9

I learned about black history on my own. I didn't learn it from school. I heard about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the first time when I was in 3rd grade classroom.
Just a few months after, my mom made me check out a book on him, telling me that I need to learn about my people. I read the book,and I was really into it. I read about Frederick Douglass,Blanche Bruce,and others in my early teens.

as for Black College scholarships:

What Is A Black Scholarship?
A Black scholarship is a financial aid opportunity available only to African American and minority students. These scholarships are often funded by Black organizations and Historically black colleges.

Why Do Black Scholarships Exist?
Black scholarships offset the disadvantages that many African American students face. Many are victims of poverty, single parent families, and post-traumatic slavery syndrome. These scholarships allow them to "play catchup" with their white counterparts.

How Are Black Scholarships Funded?
Black scholarships are generally funded by corporate and individual donations to foundations. Many corporations, such as Xerox and Alltel, have specific scholarships and fellowships just for Black students.

What Are Some Resources For Black Scholarships?

BlackStudents.com - Free newsletter for African American students looking for weekly notifications of scholarships, internships, and entry-level job opportunities

UNCF.org - the official web site of the United Negro College Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping African American students attend college with the support of corporate America
http://www.blacknews.com/directory/black_african_american_scholarships.shtml

I strongly doubt that white is a minority here in USA. I am very sure that the Census will show that. I am definitely going to identify as multiracial like I did in the last one.

Raymond

------------------
"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted February 13, 2010 12:35 AM         

Yea, it makes sense ~
poor guy can't get a handle on himself.

posted February 13, 2010 02:58 AM         

quote:

---

i can't see how making a comment about an ex's hotness makes someone a total douchebag. like you guys really know him, know him...i wonder if any of you have said anything about an ex that maybe was not appropriate? guess not..in his mond it was probobly a compliment meant to flatter that totally came out wrong.....carry on with the judging....not that anyone is jealous of his rather amazing guitar skills or anything..i wonder if we all had to live under a microscope like the celebrities do, how quick it would be before you say or do one thing inappropriate and half the jealous world calls you a douchebag? anyway, i am pretty sure i have seen a lot worse d-bag behaviour in other celebrities and it very seldom warrants comments like this..lkie jessica simpsons icky creepy dad and his totally wierd comments about his daughters boobs....not to mention the fact that creative genious generally aren't your most socailly adept people. and if you ever saw his amazing guitar solos, you would realize he is a creative genious....compared to the likes of jim page and eric clapton as far as guitar talent alone. carry on about what a jerk he is.
poor brit brit made the same mistakes thinking the press were her friends. look how the public slaughter stopped when she stopped talking to them. maybe he just doesnt have a real freind in the world to talk to. that i can believe.

---

I never said I knew him. I can honestly say that I've never said anything bad about anyone to a few magazines that reaches MILLIONS of people around the world, no.

Nor am I jealous of his "amazing" guitar skills, lol. I am not an aspiring musician, and I don't play the guitar nor do i want to...

I do agree about Jess's father....!! I do agree that artists can be a little wonky, so maybe he didn't realize what he was really saying.

I disagree he is as talented as Clapton and Hendrix. Not even close. JMO.

Amowls: That was unfair for me to do to the hookers, I didn't even realize it until you said it.

Glaucus,

I also don't put much stock into tabloids, but these were interviews that he did in Rolling Stone and Playboy. They are true. He doesn't deny them or say he was misquoted.

posted February 13, 2010 03:15 AM         

quote:

---

He isn't even cute. He looks like Frankenstein.

---

Striking resemblance!

posted February 13, 2010 05:18 AM         

And I find him very attractive as well.

I grew with musicians, married musicians, lived with them, hang with them, work in bars where hundreds pass through.

Carlos Santana can make his guitar cry.
John Mayer can make your heart cry by his playing.

He is as talented as Clapton and Hendrix. You probably idolized them because one is dead, and one is a music icon. John's music will not go away.

He may not be very good at relationships, but his art is highly honed.

posted February 13, 2010 04:04 PM         

quote:

---

i don't know about the rest of you but i have had plenty of brushes with the press and whatever you say it can be made to look good, bad or indifferent by the way it is presented.

---

This is very true, Katatonic. It happens too often with the aim of selling gossip magazines. I didn't know much about the hoopala surrounding his remarks so I thought perhaps someone had printed something he said without the context or something he said got somehow twisted. However, I've gotta say that after reading those interviews with Rolling Stone and Playboy... Geez, Mayer sure acted like a bozo!

He sat down for two pre-planned interviews and said things that any reasonable person would know in advance would be hurtful to others. He said his certain body part is a white supremacist, that Keri Hilson is "white girl crazy", bragged about the number of girls he slept with in between dating Jennifer Aniston, bragged that he is the one who broke off their relationship twice, talked about intimacy with Jessica Simpson, used the n-word "in an attempt to be cool" etc etc etc. Sheesh.